Stool sampling apparatus



July 1, 1958 2,840,826

G. K. EBBESEN ET AL STOOL SAMPLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1955ATTORNEY Unit d St t P t nt `O 2840826 Y e a' e Patented July 1, 1958size as to hold the small spoons 36 and then to be wrapped over thestrip 10 on the said container and held in position, as by the rubberbands 38. The shipping con- 2340326 tainer 40 is ofV usual type and -ofsize to receive the STOOL SAMPLING APPARATUS Gerald K. Ebbesen,Irvington, and Harry J. Johnson, New York, N. Y.

Application January 24, 1955, Serial No. 483,675

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-1) This invention relates to apparatus for taking andretaining a sample of human feces.

The need of stool examinations in medical diagnoses is very common. Yetthe collection and transmission of specimens to the physician and by himto the laboratory are so inconvenient and unsatisfactory that suchexaminations are made less frequently than should be the case.

We have now provided equipment for collection and transmission ofsamples that -eliminates at least most of the objections previouslyencountered.

Briey stated, our invention comprises a flexible strip of disposablematerial to be suspended in cradle like manner, within the toilet bowl,and means for securing the ends of the strip to the toilet seat onopposite sides of the bowl.

The invention will be illustrated by description in connection with theattached drawings to which reference is made.

Fig. l shows a plan view of the sample collecting equipment mounted on atoilet seat.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the sample collecting strip.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of an envelope for including samplingspoons in the equipment as shipped.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a container for receiving cartridges forthe sample. n

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the container with the strip of Fig. 3wrapped therearound.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the structure of Fig. 6, with the envelope ofFig. 5 and spoons therein, applied and held in position.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of shipping container for receiving thestructure of Fig. 7.

There are shown strip 10 for receiving the sample of feces, toilet bowl12 with seat 14 thereon, and an ad hesive band at each end of the saidstrip, a part 16 of the said band being adhered to the end of the strip10 and another part 18 of the band extending beyond the end of the stripand adhered to the seat 14. This part 18 of the band is protected duringshipment and storage by the sheet material 20 which may be stripped offat the time of use, as illustrated at the beginning of the strippingoperation in Fig. 3.

The container or cartridge of generally cylindrical shape 22 is providedwith spaced parallel ridges or beads 24 at such a distance apart as topermit winding of the strip 10 over the exterior cylindrical surface ofthe said container and between the beads 24. The beads constituteannular stop members disposed between the edges of the wrapped strip 10(Fig. 6) and the ends of the cartridge, so as to limit displacement ofthe Wrapped strip in the direction of the said ends. The container isclosed at the ends by conventional means such as the caps 26 and 28 andis of such size as to receive therein the cartridges 30 and 32 fittingby friction within the container 22.

The envelope 34 is of conventional type and of such structure shown inFig. 7.

The strip 10 to receive the sample is substantially longerthan thedistance between the opposite sides of the toilet seat. Because of thisextra length and the flexibility of the strip it hangs in substantiallythe form of a catenary curve, as in cradle like manner as shown in Fig.2. The width of the strip is not more than about half the width acrossthe toilet bowl at the level of the lowest part 44 of the strip whensuspended from the toilet seat. v

It will be observed that the strip is of length to extend partway overthe sides of the toilet seat. The securing means, such as the adhesivebands with parts 16 and 18, hold the strip at its ends in fully extendedcondition and conforming relationship against the toilet seat. As aresult, the strip is supported at both its side edges and generallytlatwise against the toilet seat. This type of support prevents rotationof the strip during use.

As to materials of construction, the strip 10 is not only flexible butalso disposable, that is, adapted to be flushed from the bowl to thesewer. Examples of materials that meet these requirements and illustratethe class of materials to be used are thin strips about 0.0003 to 0.002inch thick of cellophane, methyl cellulose, polyethylene, or polyvinylchloride plastic.

The cartridge 22 is suitably. constructed of cardboard or any suitableplastic such as polystyrene, polyethylene, or cellulose acetate. Theridges thereon may be formed in the molding operation.

The bands with parts 16 and 18, a part of which for each band extendsacross an end of strip 10, are constructed to advantage of cloth, paper,cellophane or the like, cloth being particularly desirable for thispurpose. The exposed face of the bands are non-tacky. The back of thebands is adhesive. Thus the back is coated for best results withpressure sensitive adhesive of conventional kind. A part 16 of thiscoated back is adhered by the adhesive to the end of one of the saidstrips. The other part 19 of the coated back is covered for shipment andstorage with a usual protective sheet. A woven light fabric such as thingauze is the preferred material. When this protective sheet 20 is pulledoi just before use of the strip, there is exposed pressure sensitiveadhesive in fresh condition for adherence to the toilet seat; throughthis adhesion, the strip is supported during use in collecting thesample of feces.

Other parts of the equipment are constructed of materials that are usualfor like parts for other uses.

The sample of feces after collection on the strip may be transferred inamount required, as by spoon, to the small closed cartridges 30 and 32that slip within the cartridge and hold therein by friction fit. Thecartridge so assembled and now having the identifying label occupying apart of the space originally covered by the Wound strip 10 is then readyfor being inserted into a mailing carton of common kind (Figure 8) andmailed to the physician or to the examining laboratory.

It will be understood that it is intended to cover all changes andmodifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for thepurpose of illustration which do not constitute departures from thespirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

Apparatus for collecting a sample of human feces comprising a toiletbowl, a seat thereon, a thin disposable ilexible strip of width not morethan half the diameter 0f the said bowl at the level of the lowest partof the strip when the strip depends within the bowl and of lengthsubstantially greater than the distance between the sides of the saidseat, and means for securing the strip at each end and oversubstantially the full width thereof to the said seat and in conformingrelationship thereto, so that the strip. will depend in `non-rotatablemanner with the 5 lowest part between the'two sides of the bowl.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 366,075Chope July 5, 1887 10 Arthur Mar. 24, 1931 Duner Feb. 27, 1934 GoldsteinJune 19, 1934 Stansbury Sept. 2l, 1937 Berkman Sept. 20, 1938 FieldsSept. 19, 1950 Lightner Apr. 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr.10, 1934

